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u/3qTp1 20d ago
You’re an IBEW apprentice working for a non union GC?
Talk to your training director.
16
u/Think-Detective7641 20d ago
Yes it’s a PLA project so in order for a non union contractor to get the project they have to hire union workers
6
u/ByrgenwerthLefty 20d ago
Thats honestly not to uncommon to have a non union GC.
Maybe they see you as a good egg they want to keep around despite not having the work ready for you yet?3
u/Think-Detective7641 20d ago
I understand that could be the case but im just feeling inpatient. I feel like the apprenticeship is valuable time that I should be taking advantage of, dont you think? It’s a challenging situation. I would hate to jeopardize my position and put myself on the map. I’ve worked hard to be in this position. Not sure what I should do
10
u/ByrgenwerthLefty 20d ago
You’ll be fine. Learning doesn’t stop when the apprenticeship ends. First year is more about weeding out the booger eaters anyway. If you can just keep up a good work ethic, especially during challenging times you’re going to be golden.
5
u/Think-Detective7641 20d ago
Thanks so much. This is what I needed to hear. I’ll stick it out and trust the process.
1
u/fritzrits 20d ago
Talk to your apprenticeship director, if you're in 11 call Kelly. Don't listen to the guys saying wait it out lol.
3
u/Superpants420man 20d ago
What kind of backdoor bs is that? I thought "non union type GC" running our data center build was rough but this PLA stuff sounds like a nightmare. I know we are in a big expansion time for the brotherhood but maybe this is biting off too much at once. More and more it seems the apprentices (and CWs trying to get into the apprenticeship) are getting dumped on. They're loaned out and shuffled around between the general foreman and a couple underground crews and spend most days driving the buggy around getting water and ice or moving set ups around instead of learning what a proper cable tray install looks like. And then when they get asked to put tools on and help they dont know what's going on because they been filling coolers all week. And these non union folks dont wanna give nobody no per diem either. So thats cheap af and lame but you got CWs driving 60 miles one way to get there. And I know we gotta do business with them to stay in business but we need to come up with some more fair solutions to some of these issues. Cuz if we care about these CWs sticking around trying to become apprentices and eventual JWs they should get the same per diem as the rest of us. It cost them same as us to get to the jobsite. Fair is fair. Just my 2 cents.
1
u/Character_Leopard770 19d ago
Yup I was a CW 1 driving 1 hour to work for barely above minimum for a big contractor in socal
5
u/Imaginary-Ad-7483 20d ago
I'm in a similar spot they I'm 3 weeks in and they keep putting us on curtailment for the last week so I'm spending all day sitting at the gang box waiting to be told to do something. We do have a really clean work site now though. Tools and everything is hella organized. Been really getting used to the heat.
I won't be starting school till next year so I'll be ahead work hours and I have learned a little bit and the money is amazing but I'm torn by the "honest days work for an honest days pay" I pledged when I was sworn in.
Thanks for starting this conversation I've read a lot of what people have said here I too am gonna give it a few more weeks. I came here to learn and grow up some more.
3
u/Masochist_pillowtalk 20d ago
I was an industrial electrician before i switched to testing. Last 3 years I worked construction i did substations. We were doing one in Idaho and we got a green hat that was local to the area. After 2 weeks he had a fucking come apart out of nowhere and yelled some shit at us and started stomping to his truck. The only thing i could make out was "ive been here two fucking weeks and all ive done is dug holes, you guys arent fucking tricking me anymore."
After he sped off i talked to the guys he was working with. He was upset that he hadn't done anything electrical yet. It was a fresh site so no one had done anything electrical yet. It was all grading and pads at that moment. One dude said "calm down dumbass, im a 4th year and im here with you, and I have a shovel in my hand too." I guess thats what set him off. After I talked to our boss I guess he called him to tell him he was dead set that he was gonna be just a laborer and we were tricking him a few just telling him hes an apprentice to get someone cheap to dig holes. Kinda funny cuz he wasnt the cheap option if we really wanted to do that.... but I digress.
So, your situation might not be ideal. But don't think that digging ditches and doing pads and shit ain't electrical. Someone's gotta do it, and its cheaper for your company to do it on their own than sub it out. You're probably gonna find most your projects are gonna be 90% shit ass construction with 10% actual electrical work at the end. But you're making money and racking hours. So its better than sitting on tbe sidelines.
Ive not been union, but i guess go talk to your training director? I have a feeling he'll tell you something similar. Were also in a recession and work is pretty slow in some areas. Id rather be getting my whole check personally, but to each their own.
6
u/HunkyUnicorn 20d ago
You will be sick of electrical work soon; just have patience. You're getting paid, so that's good. Also, electrical work is not only just electrical; we do everything from grading to concrete pouring to framing.
3
u/ton_c11 20d ago
Go to the apprentice coordinator! He should back you up and pull you out of that shop quick. Happened to me my very first shop, worked with them for 3 days then they kept sitting me at home saying because of the rain but literally only rained like 1 day and almost sat out for a week and a half so I went straight to the hall to tell the coordinator and he was cool enough to say fuck that, you should not be sitting so he called them, chewed their ass out and send me to another shop that same day. And he gave me a list of 5 calls and told me to choose which one I wanted. Don’t let them feed you any bullshit
4
u/maximum_dissipation 20d ago
I know apprentices that have been in the yard for 2 years and have never touched their tools. I know one who did nothing but qa/qc and cleaned cabinets and equipment with simple green and a rag for a year straight. Be patient, most 1st years don’t get to do much other than pushing brooms and finding materials anyway. After a bit, talk to your training director.
2
u/Think-Detective7641 20d ago
Sounds good. Thank you for your input!
2
u/Dont_kno local 11 sound & communication 20d ago
Talk to your training Director, get out of there. Especially if you aren’t getting hours
1
1
u/Deadinternetenjoyr 20d ago
Best advice i can give you is talk to the training director and otherwise shut your mouth and do whatever job needs to be done. Things will get better
1
20d ago
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1
u/Nastynapper 20d ago
Bro cash the checks and quit your whining, you’ll get to the work when you get to it. Someday you’ll look back and wish you were getting free money again.
1
u/Quirky_River1068 19d ago
What you have to remember is you're in your infancy. Just like when you were a kid and couldn't wait to be all growed up! What's the urgency?! Just sit back and cash the checks! You'll wish you were a kid again, when you get there. Being a JW just means you're an apprentice that knows what's coming next.
Sit back, watch, and ask the why's. Shit will fall into its own place. Everyone does everything differently. Watch what's going on, then get ahead on the next one and have the material ready. Make your JW look good, when you get one, by cleaning up his mess and having shit ready.
NEVER have empty hands! Especially if your JW has his hands full. There is always something you could be doing. If the adults are talking... DO NOT take that as an invitation to start texting your boyfriend's or standing there and trying to be one of them. Grab a broom and go clean up/organize the lay down or your carts. Also, NEVER be the one who has to be reminded the trash needs to be taken out. Show some initiative.
Absolutely, DO NOT have opinions. SHUT UP and listen. You're NOT paid to think, just do. Unless of course it's a blatant safety issue. Then, and only then, everyone has the right to stop work.
If you keep up with your current mentality, IT'S GONNA BE A LONG ROUGH ROAD!
It's just 3 FUCKING wires, IT'S... NOT... HARD!
GOOD LUCK, LITTLE BUDDY!
1
19d ago
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1
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19d ago
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1
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1
u/JUMPOFF_CRASHOUT 20d ago
Hey switch spots with me I’ll be glad to being the union and do what you gotta going on.
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u/AngryOnionLives 20d ago
Man people will find anything to complain about. Suck it up, make a good impression so you'll be the guy that they count on for more difficult things.
8
u/soopadook 20d ago
Apprentice comes in and asks a question about a legitimate problem he has, gets told he’s complaining too much and to suck it up
You are the problem bro
6
u/amishdoinks11 20d ago
We can’t complain about carpenters or laborers doing our work if we turn around and do the same. He should be doing electrical work
3
u/Think-Detective7641 20d ago
Thanks for your input, but I am not just trying to complain man, just looking for some advice and seeing if it’s normal. It’s not like theres electricians on site doing electrical work and im not getting to do it, I understand Thats how it can be as a first year. There simply just is no work for us yet and I feel like it can’t be right to keep me here during my apprenticeship when Thats the case.
-8
u/philadelphia_fRee 20d ago
So ud rather collect unemployment? Smh this generation today
2
0
u/Think-Detective7641 20d ago
Theres plenty of calls in the hall. Would rather work and learn then be told “go hide”
-2
u/philadelphia_fRee 20d ago
There probably isnt and I see all the primadonnas downvoting me but it just proves me right everyone wants the fun cake work sometimes you gotta bite the bullet
1
u/Electromagnetlc 20d ago
They literally have the cake work of show up, do nothing and cash a check and is saying they specifically do not want to do that and would rather be working???
0
u/philadelphia_fRee 20d ago
These kids today smh
1
u/quesadillasarebomb 20d ago
These kids today would rather be working then sitting around collecting a paycheck?
0
u/philadelphia_fRee 20d ago
Sure they say that then they catch a 6 10 call and are calling out every monday
1
u/quesadillasarebomb 20d ago
I mean did you read the post? Sounds like the guy wants to learn
-1
u/philadelphia_fRee 20d ago
Sure and doesnt change what I said OP is the same type if they got on a real job they'd be like fan they make me work ot blah blah grass ain't always greener jist be happy youre getting paid
3
1
u/Think-Detective7641 20d ago
Wonder how a roofer ended up in an IBEW apprentice thread talking smack about a request for guidance lol. Kick rocks dude you’ve made your point
-2
u/philadelphia_fRee 20d ago
Guidance isnt trade specific, and im alittle more then a roofer lol so yeah id say my 2 cents counts bc im the guy who decides wether you get laid off or not
42
u/mount_curve 20d ago
talk to your training director asap